The lightweight Monday announced the news on his Facebook page, and
Sherdog.com today verified his retirement with his manager, Monte
Cox.

"I can honestly say that Rich was one of the easiest fighters to
book that I've ever managed. He has this great drive to compete and
always puts on exciting fights. He took tough fights just because
nobody else wanted them. Promoters all over the world were excited
to get him on their cards, which made my job a lot easier,” Cox
told Sherdog.com on Tuesday. "I managed Rich for 12 years, booking
him 54 fights. He was a true professional; he got his paperwork and
medicals done on time, made weight and fought as hard as he could.
He started out as one of my fighters and became one of my good
friends. I don't think we ever even had an argument."

Clementi, 36, began his pro career in 1999 and made his first
UFC appearance in 2003. After parting ways with the
organization after just one bout, the 68-fight veteran rejoined the
Las Vegas-based promotion three years later and made his last
appearance with the company in 2009 after racking up a 5-5 Octagon
record.

“I guess this day had to come sometime. [I] just wish it could have
been on my terms, but then again, we all know that wouldn't have
happened because I would have always wanted just one more time
under those lights,” Clementi wrote on his Facebook page. “I am so
grateful for the things this sport has taught me -- the friends,
experiences and most of all learning who I am. I am so lucky I have
a platform to share these experiences and help others try to reach
their dreams.”

Following his time in the UFC, the New Jersey native competed
mostly on the local circuit, save for a May 2011 appearance in
Japan against Shinya Aoki
under the Dream banner. Most recently, Clementi entered Bellator’s
Season 7 lightweight tournament, outlasting previously unbeaten
Russian prospect Alexander
Sarnavskiy in the quarterfinals before running into Polish
prospect Marcin Held
in the semis this past Friday. Held snatched a toe hold in the
second frame of that
Bellator 81 headliner and forced the vet to tap out midway
through the round.

Clementi told Sherdog.com that his left ankle had been injured for
about two years before Held cranked on it in both the first and
second rounds, with the final submission attempt also damaging his
knee. Clementi recently underwent an MRI and says he will need to
undergo surgery to repair the damage.

“My tendons are ripped on the outside of my foot, and because they
have been stretched for so long, my socket is pitted and will have
to be filled and repaired, as well,” Clementi told Sherdog. “I
didn’t know, but I also found out I had ACL failure on the knee I
had surgery on a few years back. [I will have a] 12- to 14-month
recovery.”

“I am very excited to see what the future has in store for me,”
Clementi continued. “I will update my condition when my MRI comes
back. [My doctor] said my body has been around the block a few
times. I can only smile.”